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Decatur Heights neighborhood: We support Whole Foods 365 development

Decatur Heights neighborhood: We support Whole Foods 365 development

The Decatur Heights Neighborhood Association sent out a press release on Sept. 8 confirming its support for a proposed mixed-use development that would include a Whole Foods 365 store.

“We are pleased that [developer] S.J. Collins listened to the Church Street area neighbors and agreed to make improvements in the area that will benefit the community,” DHNA President Deanne Thomas said in the press release. “With the implementation of the pedestrian enhancements, neighbors, nearby workers and visitors will have easier walkability and a safe pedestrian path to access the shops, restaurants and grocery store at North Decatur Square.”

The North Decatur Square project will be located at North Decatur Road and Church Street. It will potentially include businesses with a drive through. Thomas said the developer wants a Special Land Use Permit that would allow for a bank with a drive-through. The developer has dropped a request for a restaurant with a catering drive through, she said. North Decatur Square will also have 200 to 300 apartment units.

DHNA had raised concerns about the impact the project would have on traffic along residential streets.

In the press release, DHNA said it had negotiated the following compromises with the developer:

– Installation of thermoplastic pedestrian crosswalks at the intersection of Church Street and North Decatur Road, the intersection of Church Street and Sycamore Drive, and on Sycamore Drive near Rufus Evans Drive;

– Installation of signage warning drivers not to block the Church Street and Sycamore Drive intersection;

– Installation of either a traffic signal or a pedestrian crossing beacon on Church Street near Milscott Drive; and

– Upgraded coordinated signal system timing for the Church Street signal system.

DHNA will support the developer’s zoning application pending before DeKalb County.

The developer expects a decision on the application this month. If that’s approved, the shopping center is expected to be open by spring of 2018.